Gas-machine



(No Model.)

J. S. WOODS.

GAS MACHINE. No. 437,136. Patented Sept. 23, 1890.

IN VENTOF Afro/m5 rs.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH S. WOOD, OF BROOKLYN, NEIV YORK, ASSIGNOR TO IVILLIAM F MCCULLY,TRUSTEE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

GAS-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 437,136, datedSeptember 23, 1890.

Application filed May 16, 1890.

To ctZZ whmn it may concern.-

Be' it known that I, JOSEPH S. WOOD, of Brooklyn, county of Kings, andState of New York, a citizen of the United States, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Gas-Machines, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention has reference to certain improvements in that class ofgas-machines in which a liquid hydrocarbon is vaporized by heat andmixed with atmospheric air in such proportion as to form anilluminatingas,

and in which the generation of gas is automatically regulated andcontrolled according to the quantity of gas burned; and the inventionconsists, first, in the construction of the retort for generating thehydrocarbon vapors and of the burner by which said retort is heated,said burner, being provided with a needle-valve, so as to regulate thesupply of oil to the burner. The vapors generated in the retort areconducted through a superheating-coil and from the same by an injectorhaving a needle-valve into a mixingchamber, into which the requiredquantity of atmospheric air is drawn and mixed with the vapors, theneedle-valve of the supply-throat of the ejector and of the burner beingautomatically controlled by the rise and fall of the drum of thegas-holder, which drum is connected to afulcrumed and weighted leverwith the needle-valve of the ejector and by an auxiliary lever with theneedle-valve of the retort-heating burner.

The invention consists, further, of certain details in the constructionof the gas-holder and in the construction of a locking device for thecontrolling-lever of the needle-valve of the ejector, by which thesupply of gas to Serial No. 352,699. (No model.)

In the drawing, B represents a retort or generator of cylindrical orother shape,which is heated by an inverted Bunsen burner G, said burnerbeing attached to the retort B and extended downwardly from the same.

Into the supply-orifice of the burner G extends a needle-valve B, thetapering end of which serves to open or close the correspondinglytapering supply-orifice that leads from the retort to the burner G. Thelower end of the burner-tube G is closed by a screw-plug g, which isprovided with a cup I), that is filled with alcohol whenever it isdesired to start the generation of gas in the retort B. The cup Z) canbe raised or lowered by screwing the plug up or down in the burner-tube,so as to bring the flame in proper relative position to the retort B.The lower part of the burner-tube G above the cup I) is provided with anumber of perforations b, that are arranged in a circle around theburner-tube, said perforations serving for emitting the gas in jets, bywhich the retort is heated.

The burner G is provided with radial tubes b through-which the airrequired for combustion is drawn in, so as to mix with the vaporsgenerated in the burner-tube G, and pass with the same through theperforations 1). Below the air-tubes b the burner-tube Gis surrounded bya superheating-coil O,'which is connected at its upper and lower ends bypipes O O with the retort B. The burner G and coil O are surrounded byan inclosingjacket J of suitable sheet metal, which serves to retain theheat of the burner and to prevent the heating-jets from beingaccidentally extinguished by sudden drafts of air or other- W186.

The hydrocarbon oil, which is vaporized in the retort B and superheatedin coil 0, is conducted to the former by a pipe I, which communicateswith a suitable tank that is located at some distance from thegenerating apparatus, a suitable pressure of air being established inthe tank on the top of the oil by an air-pump or otherwise, so as toforce the oil through the connecting-pipe I to the retort B. Thesupply-pipe I extends into the tank near the bottom of the same, so thatall the oil in the tank can be supplied to the retort,

gas-machine.

care being taken that the pressure is kept up in the same by operatingthe air-pump from time to time, as customary in gas-generating apparatusof this class. The oil is vaporized in the retort B, the vapors passingthrough the coil 0, and also through the supply-orifice, the size ofwhich is regulated by the needlevalve B, into the burner G, where theyare mixed with the air, the mixture of air and vapors being emittedthrough the jet-holes b, the jets of flame serving to heat up thesurrounding superheating-coil C, as well as the retort B.

The retort B is connected by a pipe 1' with an ejector E. The oilsupplied to the retort B is prevented from passing from the retort tothe ejector E by a stop-cock D, which is located between the outlet-pipe(3 and the needle-valve B, and by which the direct conneat-ion betweenthe retort B and the ejector E is prevented and the vapors compelled topass from the retort B through the su pply-orifice of the burner G tothe same and through the connecting-pipe C at the opposite side of thestop-cock D to the superheating-coil C. The needle-valve B for theburner G is extended through a suitable stuffing-box g at the top of theretort B, to the outside of the same, so as to prevent any escape of gasat that point.

The stop-cock D compels the vapors to pass from the retort through thecoil 0 and its connecting-pipes 0 0 so as to be superheated during itspassage through the coil 0, whereby a more perfect vaporization of theoil takes place, and whereby, also, a better illuminatin ggas isobtained, as the atmospheric air is mixed with the highly-heated vapors.The superheatin g of the vapors has the additional advantage that thecondensation in the gasholder and service-pipes is greatly diminishedand that smaller burners can be used. The stop-cock D has a smallopening which ordinarily is disconnected from the retort, as shown inthe drawing. This opening permits the direct connection of the retort Bwith the ejcctor,E and its mixing-chamber, when, bywearorotherwise,thesuperheating-coilshould become injured, in which casethe stop-cock is turned so that the vapors can pass off directly fromthe retort to the ejector. In this case the vapors are, however, notsuperheated, and the machine does not perform its function aseffectively as when the vapors are superheated in the coil 0.

The ejector E is constructed in the usual well-known manner and providedwith a needle-valve E, which is guided by a stuffingbox a, the conicalend of said needle-valve serving to open or close the conically-taperingsupply orifice or throat of the ejector E. The vapors generated in theretort B are forced through the superheating-coil C and through thenarrow throat of the ejector into the mixing-chamber e of the same, soas to draw atmospheric air through an opening 6 into the mixing-chambere, the size of the opening being regulated in the usual manner by asuitable valve, so that the proper proportion of atmospheric air isdrawn in. The air is mixed with the vapors in its passage through theoutlet-throat e of the mixingchamber, said mixture being then conductedby a pipe P to the gas-holder H. The supply-pipe P is provided with acheck-valve K of any approved construction, which permits the passage ofgas in the direction of the gasholder when the pressure in the ejectoris greater than the back-pressure of gas in the gas-holder, but whichprevents the return of the gas from the gas-holder and the discharge ofthe same through the air-supply opening e of the mixing-chamber wheneverthe pressure of the gas in the ejector is smaller than the pressure ofthe gas in the gas-holder.

The gas-holder H is constructed of an exterior cylindrical or othershell h and a second interior shell h. The space between the shells hand h is filled with water or glycerinc and serves to form a hydraulicseal for the bell-shaped drum H of the gas-holder, which extends intothe space between the shells h h. The shells 71, and h are supported ona cylindrical bottom chamber 11", which is connected with thesupply-pipe P, and which is divided by a transverse partition 7&2 intotwo parts, the smaller one next to the supplypipe P serving as aninlet-chamber for the gas, while the larger one on the other side of thepartition serves as an outlet-chamber for the gas. The gas is conductedfrom the inlct-chamber of the bottom-chamber 11 by an upwardly-extendingpipe it into the gas-holder H, while a central larger pipe 71: connectsthe gas-holder with the outlet-chamber and the gas-supply main h'. Thepartition h2 in the bottom chamber H does not extend entirely to thebottom of the chamber H, but to some distance from the same, so as toleave a space which is closed by a hydraulic seal formed by water orglycerine. The upper end of the outlet-pipe h is provided with a conicalvalve 7L6, which is suspended by a spiral spring 7L7, that is attachedto the top of the drum H. The spiral spring It serves to permit theraising of the drum even while the conical valve it closes the openingof the outlet-tube If, so that the drum can partake of a certain riseand fall even when the valve h closes the outlet'tube and shuts oil thesupply of gas to the gas-supply main. The condensation that collects atthe bottom of the gas-holder at the inside of the shell h is drawn offthrough a discharge-pipe h, which is closed by a screw-plug, while thecondensation formed by the gas in the bot tom chamber 11 is collected atthe bottom of the same and is mixed with the liquid forming the seal inthe bottom of the same, and drawn oil from time to time with the liquid.To the exterior shell h and to the top of the drum H are appliedhorizontal brackets t" F. To the bracket 1' of the drum H is attached aguide-rod 2' and an adjustable rod 2' which is connected by a slottedportion i with a the. lever F the needle-valve E connected to the sameis moved downward,so as to gradually close the throat of the ejector Eand diminish thereby the supply of vapors. At the same time theneedle-valveB,which is connected by a fulcrumed lever F and pivot-link fwith the lever F is moved into the supply-orifice of the burner G, sothat the supply of oil to the same and thereby the size of theheating-jets is diminished; The motion imparted to the needle-valve B ofthe burner G is so proportioned to that of the needle-valve E of theejector E by the levers F F that the needlevalve B of the burner nevercloses entirely the supply-orifice of the burner, even when the throatof the ejector E is entirely closed by the needle-valve E. By thisadjustment of the needle-valve B the flame of the burner is neverextinguished, but reduced to such an extent that it only serves to keepthe generating-coil and retort heated, so as to generate a smallquantity of gas, just suffieient to supply the burner, which is therebyalways ready to supply a larger heating-flame whenever the generation ofgas is to be started again by the opening of the needle-valve of theejector. At the under side of the lever F is arranged, near the fulcrumof the same, a quadrantal cam a, which is provided with a notch a at itslower end. A locking-spring a that is attached to the arm f, moves alongthe quadrantal cam until the lever F is raised to such an extent that itenters the notch a at the end of the same. At this point the full forceof the spring a is exerted on the cam a, so that the lever is quicklyraised in the slot 17* of the guide-rod 2', while the needle-valve E ofthe ej ectorE is suddenly closed, and thereby the supply of gas from theretort to the gas-holder interrupted. The quick motion of theconnecting-lever F, owing to the action of the locking-spring a isassisted by the weight at the outer end of the lever F. This arrangementhas the advantage that Whenever the gas-holder is filled to a certainextent the interruption of the gassupply is accomplished in a positiveand effective manner. This motion of the lever F also operates theneedle-valve of the burner and reduces the flame of the same to such anextent that the generating retort and coil are simply kept in a heatedcondition, while the generation of gas is interrupted. As soon as thedrum of the gas-hold er falls by the supply of gas to the burners, thelever F is lowered by the action of the drum on the end of the same.This produces the lifting of the needle-valve of the mixer E, also thelifting of the needle-valve of the burner G. The lockingspring is at thesame time released from the notch of the quadrantal cam a and movedalong the edge of the same until the next closing and locking action ofthe lever takes place.

The 'quadrantal cam or trip and the locking-spring have the advantagethat when the gas-holder is filled to its greatest capacity, or

nearly so, the generation of gas is almost instantly interrupted and thesize of the heating-fiame of the burner diminished. The machine respondsthereby in a more effective manner to the requirements of the burners,while the generation of gas is started again as soon as a certainquantity of gas is drawn off from the gas-holder by being supplied tothe burners.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: The oil-tank is filledWith oil and the latter placed under air-pressure, so that itwill passthrough the supply-pipe I into the retort B.

the retort B, so as to generate the vapors therein, which are conductedto the ejector E and mixed in the mixing-chamber and outlet-throat ofthe same with atmospheric air, the gas and air mixture belng thenconducted through the pipe P to the gas-holder H,

needle-valve E closes the orifice of the ejector E. Simultaneously theheating of the flame of the burner G is reduced to such an extent thatthe generation of vapors in the retort and coil is interrupted, butcontinued in a small measure in the burner-tube, so that the heating ofthe retort and coil is kept up. By the consumption of gas in lightingthe burn ers, the drum of the gas-holder falls and the generation ofgases is automatically started again, as by the action of the levers F Fthe heating-fiame is increased and the supply of vapors to the ejectorand mixing-throat started again. When the apparatus is properly started,it requires no further attention, as the different operations areaccomplished automatically and in an effective and reliable manner.

By the arrangement of the superheating coil below the retort and theimproved c011- struction of the burner for heating the coil and retort,the apparatus works with greater regularity and precision and is enabledto supply illu minating-gas in sufficient quantity The burner h is thenheated up for starting the apparatus by alcohol that isv as required bythe number of gas-burners in j use. When some of the gas-burners are extingnished, the generation of gas is automatically diminished while itis increased when a larger number is lighted.

I am aware that gas-machines in which vapors are generated fromhydrocarbon oil, by means of a burner below the retort and mixed withatmospheric air by means of an ejector connected with the retort, wereused heretofore. I am also aware that needle-valves for thesupply-orifice of the burner and ejector were operated by a suitablelever mechanism connected to the gas-holder; and I therefore do notclaim these features broadly, but desire to confine myself to thearrangement of the auxiliar generating-coil located below the retort andconnected therewith, the improved construction of the burner for heatingthe retort and coil, the automatic control of the needle-valves of theburner and ejector by a lever-connection with the gas-holder, and theconstruction of the gas-holder, as their specific features are not shownin the gas-machines of this class heretofore in use.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent 1. The combination of a generating-retort having alateral outlet-pipe provided with a stop-cock, a burner below saidretort and connected therewith, a needle-valve for said burner, asuperheating-coil below the retort, and tubes by which the coil isconnected with the retort at opposite sides of the stop-cock,substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of a generating-retort having a transverse stop-cock,a burner below the retort and connected with the same, a needle-valvefor said burner for opening or closing the supply-orifice of saidburner, a superheating-coil extending around the burner, tubesconnecting said coil with the retort, one of said tubes being arrangedat one side and the other tube at the other side of the stop-cock, anejector connected with the retort, a needle-valve for said ejector, agasholder, and a gas-supply pipe for conducting the gas from the ejectorto the gas-holder, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of a generating-retort, a burner below said retort, atube connecting the retort with the burner, and a needle-valve passingthrough the top of the retort into the upper end of the burner-tube,said burnertube being closed at the lower end and provided with jet-openings, and with lateral airinlet tubes above the jet-openings,substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of a generating-retort having a lateral outlet-pipeprovided with a stop-cock, a burner below the same and connectedtherewith, a needle-valve for the supply-orifice of the burner, asuperheating-coil encircling the burner, tubes for connecting thesuperheating-coil with the retort, one tube being located at one sideand the other at the other side of the stop-cock, an ejector connectedwith the retort, a needle-Valve for said ejector, a gas-holder, agas-supply pipe connecting the ejector with the gas-holder, a fulcrumedlever connecting the needle-valve of the ejector with the drum of thegas-holder, and an auxiliary lever connecting the needlevalve of theburner with the main lever, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination of a generating-retort having a lateral outlet-pipeprovided with a stop-cock, a burner below the same and connectedtherewith, a needle-valve for the supply-orifice of the burner, asuperheating-coil surrounding said burner, tubes for connect ing thesuperheating-coil with the retort, one tube being located at one sideand the other tube at the other side of the stop-cock, an ejectorconnected to said retort, a needlevalve for said ejector, a gas-holder,a gas-supply pipe connecting the ejector with the gasholder, a weightedand fulcrumed lever connecting the needle-valve of the ejector with thegas-holding drum, an auxiliary lever applied to the needle-valve of theburner and connected to the main lever, a notched cam or trip on themain lever, and a lockingspring for engaging said notched trip andinterruptingthe generation of gas when the gasholding drum is entirelyfilled, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed myname in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH S. WOOD.

\Vitnesses:

PAUL GOEPEL, W. REIMHERR.

